Rubber boot or shoe



(No Model.)

A. G.TORBEB.T. RUBBER BOOT OR SHOE.

No. 569,125. Patented Oct. 6, 1896 AXWQA ,mz mums versus ca. morcurmm wunmm'on, w. B.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED c. 'TORBERT, or AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

RUBBER BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,125, dated October 6, 1896.

Application filed May 24, 1895. Serial No. 550,570. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED (J. TORBERT, of Austin, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to boots and shoes, having for its object the production of an improved rubber boot or shoe. which shall by its structural characteristics protect the sheet-rubber forming the upper thereof from cuts or abrasions.

In the use of rubber boots as heretofore constructed I have found that there is always danger of the upper being cut or abraded, especially when the wearer is engaged in makin g excavations or in other occupations where his foot is liable to encounter sharp pieces of rock, metal, or glass. I have found from practical experience that but a small proportion of rubber boots and shoes is actually worn out inservice and that a very large proportion soon becomes useless because of the upper being cut and mutilated. Various attempts have heretofore been made to protect the upper from injury, as by the use of metallic armor extending up over the sides of the upper, 850., but such constructions entail great additional expense in the manufacture of the boot or shoe and render it uncomfortable to the wearer; Again, an extra thick sole has been provided additional to the outsole and secured therebeneath and projecting beyond the lines of the boot; but this is clumsy and unsightly and adds additional weight to the boot, besides greatly increasing the cost of its manufacture.

Instead of providing the boot or shoe in my case with metallic armor extending up over the upper, or with an additional sole,

' thereby rendering it heavy, I extend the outsole itself very appreciably out beyond the vertical lines of the upper, so as to provide a flange Which projects out in every direction beyond the upper and protects it at every point. I

My invention therefore consists of a rubber boot or shoe provided with a single outsole which is of greater length and width than the upper, so as to extend out beyond the latter on all sides and form a guard to protect the upper both at the toe and heel,

and a heel secured to the sole and extending out coextensively therewith to lend additional strength to the guard, as I shall now proceed to describe with particularity, and set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the annexed d rawings, and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a rubber boot having a portion of the toe broken away, so as to show the sole in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 00 w of Fig. 1.

It will be understood at the outset that my invention is equally applicable to both boots and shoes, although I have illustrated it in the drawings and shall hereinafter describe it as being applied to a boot.

It will be observed that the upper portion of the boot differs in no essential respects from those now in use, it having an upper a, and a top I) provided with straps a. They are constructed of sheets of rubber or caoutchouc suitably backed and cemented together. The upper is reinforced or thickened at cl and extends beneath the boot to form a portion of the sole, so that I may secure the insole 6 and the outsole f thereto, thereby rendering the boot absolutely waterproof. The outsole f is formed of one, two, or more layers of leather, and it is very appreciably greater in width and length than the upper, so as to project both longitudinally and laterally out beyond the extreme outer lines'or the vertical lines of said upper, as clearly shown by the drawings. Thus a wide flange g is provided to protect the rubber upper from cuts and abrasion.

The outsole is secured to the bottom of the rubber upper by means of nails h, which are driven through the thick leather insole e, the outsole f, and the upper, and are clenched on the inside, so as to clamp them tightly together, thereby aifording the wearer greater comfort than is afforded by a sole that is entirely made of rubber. If desired, I also cement the soles together in addition to securing them by means of the nails. The bottom of the outsole maybe thickly studded with largeheaded nails 2', as shown, so as to prevent its being cut or injured and to increase the wearing qualities, although this is not necessary in every case. The heel j is formed of lifts of leather nailed together and to the sole in any suitable way, and it, too, projects out beyond the rear portion of the upper as far as the edge of the outsolef.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a rubber boot with a leather sole which projects materially out beyond the rubber upper and prevents it from being cut or torn by any sharp or ragged rock or substance which may be trod upon by the wearer.

It will be understood that while I have described and hereinafter claim the particular way in which the boot is formed, yet I do not limit myself thereto, as the essence of my invention consists in providing a rubber boot with a leather outsole projecting out beyond the upper on all sides thereof and a heel secured directly to the said outsole and extend ing rearwardly coextensively therewith.

It is of great importance that the sole of the boot be of leather, as rubberis not strong enough to withstand and prevent abrasion or cuts, and therefore a stronger material must be employed. The leather outsole itself extends out as a guard beyond the upper and is of sufficient strength and toughness to protect the upper. \Vhen a rubber sole is employed additional to the ordinary sole and secured around the heel-taps, it is not a sufficient guard for the rear portion of the upper, as the thin strip which extends around the vent it from being badly cut 'or from being torn from the upper or from the heel-taps. hat I claim is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a boot or shoe, comprising in its construction, an in sole, an upper of rubber, a single outsole proj ectin g out beyond the upper in all directions, so as to protect it, and a heel secured to said outsole and extending to the rear edge thereof.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a boot or shoe comprising a rubber upper, a leather insole, a single leatheroutsole, projecting out beyond the front and rear portions of the insole and the upper to form a guard, nails securing said outsole to the insole, and a heel coextensive with the rear portion of the outsole and nailed directly thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of May, A. D. 1895.

. ALFRED C. TORBERT.

Vitnesses S. E. GOODING, RAYMOND DU PUY. 

